Community Brag Posts

Snowflake shelf

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/24/2015 - 10:08

I just loved this shelf that I made 10 of them for family for Christmas! We made the original size but decided to size it down by a third. :)

Estimated Cost
less than $20
Estimated Time Investment
An Hour or Two (0-2 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Paul's Kitchen Helper

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/22/2019 - 07:24

This was constructed out of solid black walnut from a tree that grew in our homeowner's association area. A neighbor and I had the tree sawn into planks, which we air-dried for a year, and then divided up the wood. So this really is an "all natural" project.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Clear Polyurathane gloss
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Finally Done!

Finally finished my first build! This was initially meant to just be a file cabinet but by the time I got a little over half way through we got rid of our huge office desk to make a guest room and decided that I should a top to the file cabinet to make a small desk to go in our living room. It's a perfect fit! This definitely took me longer than I had expected thanks to a lot of cold or wet days, a busy schedule and a lack of a garage. If it wasn't light out and dry I couldn't work. In addition, since this was my first build, I had to learn a lot of skills, buy a lot of new tools (Christmas helped) and fix a lot of mistakes (not to mention the untold number of trips to the hardware store). However I am so excited about how well this turned out I am already halfway through building a set of night stands and my "to-do" list is very, very long!

Estimated Cost
150.00
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Oil based primer on the bottom and then oil based white paint, Valspar, sort of a cream color (can't remember the exact name)

Top was pretreated with a Minwax Pre-stain Wood Conditioner, then stained with Cabot "Tannery" x 2 then finished with 3 coats of Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

NadineC

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 11:37

What type of plywood did you use for the top? I am looking to buy the materials and I have no clue what to get.

claydowling

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 16:56

Nadine,

If you're determined to stain the top, there are a couple of different things I'd try.

The first is looking for a panel instead of plywood. Most home stores and lumber yards sell glued up wood table and counter tops. At Menards I've seen maple, oak and pine. Lowes and Home Depot usually at least have pine. It costs slightly more, but it gives a really nice desktop.

If you want plywood, if you're going to stain it buy an A1 plywood. In an ideal world, it would have a rotary cut core, but that isn't essential. Home centers tend to make it a bit harder to by plywood by the surface grade, so I really recommend you go to a lumber yard for your plywood. That said, I've seen the stacks of Purebond at Home Depot that Ana recommends, and it looks like very nice material. I haven't used it, but I think it would be worth trying.

Farmhouse king size bed with matching bedside table

Submitted by disneynut on Sun, 10/06/2013 - 13:09

The bed was a great project to start with. Very easy to follow instructions. I was a little worried that the bed was going to be too big, but once my husband and I got it together it was perfect. I used the metal frame that the bed already sat on, so I didn't need supports. I added a special touch for my husband since it was almost our anniversay. It's barely noticable but I carved our initials into the footboard. He loved it! After I completed the bed I moved on to the table. I forgot to take progress pictures. My next project I will be sure to do so. This was a joy to build. I still can't believe I made these beautiful peices! One more bedside table to build and my room will have all new furniture. Thank you Ana for the plans!! It's going to be tough to figure out what to build next. so many plans to choose from! :)

Estimated Cost
Both peice about $150-$180
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Minwax Wood conditioner, Minwax Jacobean, and Minwax satin finish varnish.
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Mattea's Doll House

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 12/27/2015 - 14:06

Built this off another plan

Estimated Cost
250
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

PEM Kitchen Tower

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2019 - 12:37

Built from solid walnut milled from a tree that grew nearby.  Had tree cut into slabs, air dried the wood for a year, then planed into boards for use in the project.  Rabbitted the supports rather than depending only on screws.  Finished with tung oil and clear polyurathane.

Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Tung oil and clear gloss polyurethane. Diluted tung oil, paint thinner, and polyurethane and wiped on with lint free pad to eliminate drips and runs.
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

My cozy outdoor loveseat

Submitted by Megan W on Sat, 10/08/2011 - 17:47

We followed the plans exactly. I I got 4 separate square cushions at Hobby Lobby, got the fabric there also. My friend sewed the cushions for me (so sweet!) because she knows I can't sew=)

I found the little side table at a garage sale for $3 and painted it white to match. I love this piece on my patio...it's great for reading, or to sit and sip coffee or a glass of wine!

Estimated Cost
cushions and fabric= $100ish, lumber= <$50
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
paint
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Comments

my beer cooler table

Submitted by sajmc on Tue, 10/08/2013 - 08:02

loved the challenge first project ever, my suggestion to anyone buy the kreg jig best thing since sliced bread

Estimated Cost
beer table
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

7ft trestle leg table with matching bench and 5 chairs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/08/2019 - 10:56

This was a project I built about a year ago. It's a 7ft trestle leg table with a matching bench. The top is stained dark walnut and the bottom is white and distressed. Matching X back chairs were finished the same.

Estimated Cost
$350 in materials
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Shiplap fireplace

Submitted by Medickep on Tue, 01/31/2023 - 05:42

My fiancée wanted to spice up our living room and we got this great idea from Ana, whose video made me realize I could do this! I was a little reluctant because a lot of these you see don’t have a lot of electronics and the TV is pretty high. I feel like we we able to balance this out by adding the shelf’s to the side for electronics!

Comments

Pretty AND Functional Wall Shelf

To finish off my bathroom remodel I built the Martina wall shelf. I reused the metal hook that was previously on my wall before the board and batten treatment. It fit perfectly in the space under the shelf meant for hooks. I wish I had measured out my towels and storage needs. I could have actually stored more if I had adjusted the plans to make the shelf a little deeper and a couple inches wider. Overall, I'm very pleased! The Kreg Jig is a fun little tool, too!

Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
primer/sealer (1 coat)
Valspar High Noon in Flat Enamel finish (2 coats)
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Comments

Truss Shelves

Submitted by valeriek on Thu, 10/10/2013 - 11:15

First project! Cut the tops at the wrong angle. Stained with Miniwax Dark Walnut. Had some kreg jig troubles but all-in-all very happy with the results.

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$70
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Miniwax Dark Walnut with Polyurethane Coating
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Modern Farmhouse Bed

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 08:19

This was my first BIG project. I worked on it for a few hours every day for a few weeks. The most tedious part was sanding, but that is because I wanted to go the cheap way and got my wood from HD. I also did this (mostly) by myself, but having a partner definitely would have made the process go faster (especially for attaching the side rails to the headboard/footboard). I used bed rail brackets to make things easy when I move. I also made the bed a little higher than Ana's plan because I wanted a lot of under-bed storage.

Have questions!? Just ask! This was such a rewarding project :) 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$300
Estimated Time Investment
Week Long Project (20 Hours or More)
Finish Used
Pre-stain wood conditioner, Two coats of Early American stain, Four coats of wipe-on poly
Recommended Skill Level
Intermediate

Chest of Drawers Build

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/03/2023 - 13:15

I got the idea to build this chest of drawers after watching your mudroom bench tutorial. They turned out great! It’s very sturdy and holds a lot of clothes. Thanks again for the great videos and plans👍.

Leslie

Built from Plan(s)

Comments

Harriett Higher Chair

Submitted by Barbarazzi on Tue, 10/18/2011 - 05:29

I made this chair for my two-year old niece so she can sit at the table like a big girl. We call it the "Share Chair" because she has to share it with her two sisters. It was fairly easy to make; I think I spent more time painting it.

Estimated Cost
$20
Estimated Time Investment
Afternoon Project (3-6 Hours)
Finish Used
Polycrylic over paint
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Kentwood Bookshelf

While staging my sister & brother-in-laws home so they could list it for sale, I ended up with an "empty wall" in their living room and nothing to fill it with, but knew a small bookshelf would work perfectly! I loved the look of the Kentwood bookshelf plan. I'm not the fastest builder, but after a couple hours, I had everything cut, all pocket holes drilled and everything fully assembled. I only applied one coat of stain and a single coat of poly and skipped adding a back...for now. I may go back and add a back later, but for now I'm thrilled with it (and so was my sister!)

Edit:  I finally added a back to the shelf - just in time to sell it to a friend. ;)

Estimated Cost
$80
Estimated Time Investment
Day Project (6-9 Hours)
Finish Used
Minwax Jacobean stain, Minwax Wipe-on Poly
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner

Rustic X Coffee Table

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 01/02/2016 - 13:06

This is my first attempt at a rustic coffee table build based on Ana's designs. I used redwood (mostly) and pine for the bottom shelf. The solution was created using white vinegar and 00 grade steel wool. The solution was not diluted (should have done 50/50 with water) and sat for about 15 days (only needed 5-7 to dissolve all wool).  

Hope you enjoy!

 

Built from Plan(s)
Estimated Cost
$115
Estimated Time Investment
Weekend Project (10-20 Hours)
Finish Used
Vinegar/Steel Wool oxidized solution - two coats, not diluted + Satin Clear Minwax Polyurethane finish (three coats, sanded w/220 grit sand paper in between).
Recommended Skill Level
Beginner